By the time we left Victoria Peak the traffic had subsided but the queue to return on the Tram was as long as ever. We descended without much delay and captured a brief glimpse of the Happy Valley Race Course (See photo).
Horse racing is very popular in Hong Kong and gambling could almost be regarded as a national pastime for the Chinese except that gambling is forbidden in Hong Kong. The first irony is that the Hong Kong Government doesn’t regard betting on horse racing as gambling! It is actually a source of substantial income with 17% of the stake money going to the State. There are two race meetings a week at Happy Valley with 8 races on each card. Our guide told us that gambling on each race averages £17m – “believe that if you will” so no wonder it’s not regarded as gambling!! For Chinese who want to gamble they have to go to the casinos in Macau or if they really can’t wait there is a ship that leaves Victoria Harbour around midnight and once in international waters opens its gaming tables, returning the next morning at 7.00am.
Our next destination was not Macau but he Jade Garden restaurant for a truly memorable meal.
Can’t read the Cantonese menu then drool over the English version below.
The restaurant was packed to bursting with what seemed to be a very raucous game of Chinese Bingo going on in one of the adjoining rooms – I’m sure no gambling was involved, just a lot of shouting and clapping. All eight courses were served at once, all piping hot and accompanied by a demonstration of noodle making which involved nearly as much energy from the chef as the game next door. Luckily no one was lassoed with the threads of noodle that were promptly removed for cooking and served coated in delicious sauce.
The dessert was Honeydew Melon in Sago – remember the frogspawn puddings of your youth – delicious; I know because I had two!!
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